Sri Lanka were planning to complain to the match referee after the fourth one-day international against Australia in Sydney was farcically abandoned due to rain.

Sri Lanka were the clear favourites at 14 without loss in reply to Australia's 222 for nine before 90 minutes of drizzle denied the tourists the chance to secure a series victory.

Mahela Jayawardene's side played in far worse conditions only three months ago, and the Sri Lanka captain said: "I think we can probably write to the match referee (Javagal Srinath) because the interpretation we got three months ago was something totally different."

He went on: "It was deemed that we would only stop play if it was dangerous, not unfair.

"We played New Zealand three months ago and the interpretation of what we got in that series was quite different to what we got today.

"It's disappointing because at the SCG I would assume a ground of this magnitude should be able to get a game in."

Match officials deemed the outfield too wet to play, while the SCG claimed the rain was too light to sink into the ground and the lack of wind prevented the drying process.

David Warner joined Australian captain Michael Clarke in backing the controversial decision to abandon the game.

"It was very wet. We were throwing the ball on the ground and could see the water spinning up behind the ball so that indicates the ground is pretty wet," Warner told Sky Sports Radio. "We did have a pretty substantial amount of rain.

"It's not our call - we're all for playing - but some responsibility has to fall on the umpires to decide if it's safe for the bowlers. If their footing comes undone...we don't want any injuries. Safety comes first."